MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Indiana University Softball Team (4-14, 0-0 CCAC) opened up their Florida Spring Break trip with six games over a three day span. The Titans had a doubleheader on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday winning two of their first six games of the ten game week. IUSB split a doubleheader with Florida National University (14-16, 1-0 Conf.) on day one, winning game one 4-2 and dropping game two 2-5. Day two saw the Titans play two different opponents losing game one against Brewton-Parker College (GA) (10-13-1, 4-4 Conf.) 6-4 and losing game two of the day 3-0 to University of Northwestern Ohio (13-8, 0-0 Conf.). Day three IUSB lost to Dallas Christian College (7-11, 0-0 Conf.) 3-2, and lost to NCAA D2 Saint Michael’s College (VT) (3-4-1, 0-0 Conf.) by a score of 8-3.
Game 1 (W 4-2)
The Titans opened up their spring trip with a comeback win scoring four runs late in the game. Florida National scored one run in the second inning and one run in the fourth inning to get out to an ealy 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourth inning the Titans scored two runs to tie the game at 2-2. The Titans added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 4-2 lead. IUSB held FNU scoreless for the rest of the game to take the first game of a doubleheader 4-2. Abigail Yarnell, Maddie Leisher, and Savannah Hamilton each had two hits an RBI for the Titan offense. Savannah Hamilton picked up the win on the mound throwing a 7.0 inning complete game giving up 2 runs, 2 earned, on six hits and one strikeout
Game 2 (L 5-2)
FNU got out to an early 4-0 lead scoring one run in the first inning, one run in the second inning, and two runs in the third inning. The Titans were held scoreless through their first five times at bat, but in the sixth inning they pushed two runs across looking to spark another comeback and bring the score to 4-2 going into the last inning. FNU added one more run in the top of the seventh inning to take a 5-2 lead while IUSB couldn’t push any runs across in their final at bat. Savannah Hamilton and Grace Swangin each had two hits, Hamilton adding an RBI to her stat line. Jaylah Harlan added the other RBI for the Titan offense. Elyse Starr got the start in the circle picking up the loss going 3.0 innings giving up 4 runs, 2 earned, on 4 hits and 2 strikeouts.
Game 3 (L 6-4)
Some defensive miscues got the best of the Titans in game one of day two against Brewton-Parker College. The Titans had a 2-1 lead after the first inning giving up a run in the top of the first before responding with two of their own. Brewton-Parker had a four run third inning, but IUSB responded again with two runs of their own to make it a 5-4 ballgame in favor of the Barons. The Titan offense went quiet for the rest of the game and Brewton-Parker added one more run in the fifth inning to cruise to the 6-4 win. Jordan Watts led the offense going 3-4 with a double, Reece Douglass and Savannah Hamilton had the lone RBI’s for IUSB. Savannah Hamilton threw another complete game in the circle, this time picking up the loss in her efforts throwing 7.0 innings giving up 6 runs, 2 earned, giving up 7 hits and striking out 3.
Game 4 (L 3-0)
Game two of day two saw the Titans face UNOH for the third time this season, this time in the sunshine state. Both teams were magnificent in the circle with the game held scoreless through five innings of play. UNOH scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to a few extra base hits and a sacrifice fly. The Titans were held scoreless in their final at bat dropping the game 3-0. Maddie Leisher, Savannah Hamilton, Leah Dawson, and Summer Johnson each had one hit for the Titans. Jaylah Harlan took the loss going 5.1 innings giving up 3 runs, 3 earned, on 7 hits and1 strikeout.
Game 5 (L 3-2)
For the third straight day the Titans had a doublehader with game one being against Dallas Christian College (7-11, 0-0 Conf.). Dallas Christian got out to an early lead scoring two runs in the third inning. IUSB got on the board in the fourth inning to make it a 2-1 game. In the fifth inning Dallas Christian added another run to extend their lead to 3-1. The Titans rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning, adding a run to get the game within one, but DCC closed the door on the game leaving the Titans with a game one 3-2 loss. Jordan Watts went 3-4 at the plate with a double, while Summer Johnson went 2-3 with two doubles and an RBI, Abigail Yarnell also added an RBI for the Titans. Savannah Hamilton threw yet another complete game in the losing effort throwing 7.0 innings, giving up 3 runs, 3 earned, on 13 hits, while striking out 4.
Game 6 (L 8-3)
Game two of day three the Titans faced NCAA D2 opponent Saint Michael’s College (VT) (3-4-1, 0-0 Conf.). The Titans got on the scoreboard first scoring a run in the top of the first inning, but Saint Michael’s responded right away with a run of their own. IUSB regained the lead in the third inning with another run, but yet again Saint Micheal’s responded this time two runs to take a 3-1 lead. Saint Michael’s added four runs in the fourth inning to take a commanding 7-2 lead. IUSB could only scratch one run in the fifth inning, while Saint Michael’s added another run in the sixth inning to bring the game to the final 8-3 in favor of Saint Michael’s. Jordan Watts led the offense in hits going 2-4 with a stolen base and 2 runs. Abigail Yarnell had the lone RBI for the Titans in her 1-4 game adding a double. Yarnell picked up the loss in the circle going 4.0 innings giving up 7 runs, 3 earned, on 10 hits and 4 strikeouts.
The Titan Softball team will have a day off before their final two days of their Spring Break trip. They’ll return to action on Thursday March 20th when they face University of Fort Lauderdale and Webber International (Fla.) and will wrap up the week with a doubleheader against familiar opponent Dallas Christian College on Friday March 21st.